Sarah Kleinke,
GENERAL MANAGER
Sarah Kleinke is a dancer, educator, and arts administrator serving as the General Manager of EMERGE125 in New York City. Originally from Hickory, North Carolina, she earned her BFA in Dance Performance from East Carolina University.
Since moving to New York City in 2015, Sarah has built a career spanning performance and arts administration. She joined Elisa Monte Dance as a Company Dancer in 2020 and was a founding Company Dancer with EMERGE125 (E125), where she also held administrative roles throughout her four seasons as a performer. Her performance credits include appearances at venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Delacorte Theater, NYU Skirball, Chelsea Factory, Bryant Park, The Flea Theater, and Ailey Citigroup Theater, with highlights including Public Works’ The Tempest (2023).
Sarah has been deeply embedded in the growth and evolution of EMERGE125, serving as Company Manager, Staff Administrator, Digital Marketing Coordinator, Teaching Artist, and Company Dancer. Her transition into a full-time role as General Manager in July 2025 reflects her long-standing commitment to the organization and the many roles she has taken on. She has helped secure major capacity-building support from The Bay and Paul Foundations and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, strengthening the company’s long-term sustainability.
In 2025, Sarah completed the Leadership Fellows at The Trust program. Her leadership draws from her experience as both a professional dancer and administrator, informing her commitment to building sustainable organizations that meaningfully support artists.